The development of sound leaders is a complicated process that is both dependent on the individual, his or her team, and the industry in which they work. But working to become a good leader is essential, especially in today's business environment, where studies have shown that over 80% of people don't trust their boss. Eventually, employees leave jobs where they don't respect their boss. Good leadership is imperative to employee retention and creating long-term organizational success.

There are a variety of skills that provide a solid foundation for good leadership. However, science says that some people are pre-disposed to be better leaders than others.

Inherent traits play a role in leadership potential.

Scientific studies reveal that good leaders are ambitious, curious, and sociable. By having these characteristics you have a better chance to grow within your discipline or company and become a leader. Another critical aspect of leadership is integrity. By having integrity, you can build trusting, supportive teams, with positive work cultures where people feel valued and supported. While a high IQ does have an impact on leadership potential, the correlation is extremely small, less than 5%, when compared to these broader positive traits.

Are some people born leaders?

Personality traits and intelligence levels are impacted by genetics, which means some people are born with stronger pre-disposition to take on roles in leadership. In fact, estimates suggest that 30-60% of leadership is heritable. However, if you don't naturally have the traits listed above - sociability, curiosity, ambition, and integrity - it doesn't mean you won't become a leader. Through training and coaching, it's possible to develop the competencies necessary to stand at the helm of a project or company.

Does gender play a role in leadership?

From a leadership potential perspective, gender has little impact. In fact, data has shown that women can be extremely successful as leaders. Over an eight-year study of publicly traded companies, it was discovered that organizations with female CEO's or female Director's of Boards produced a better annual return when compared to male counterparts. We don't have fewer women leaders because of a lack of female leadership potential or a propensity for business. In truth, the number of leaders is currently skewed in favor of males because of social factors such as gender biases, lack of fairness in hiring opportunities, and a history of male dominance in business.

Being in a position of leadership may not feel comfortable for everyone, and that's okay. As individuals, we engage with the world in different ways, and we have innate strengths that should be utilized to our advantage. Specific traits may lead to a higher propensity toward taking on leadership roles, while other factors such as gender play a much smaller role.

But let me be clear. If you want to become a leader, don't let scientific studies, your family, or any article convince you that goal is unattainable. You can learn, grow, and evolve, becoming the leader you want to be.